I had a Renault Clio (bought new) where the steering cut out on the motorway. Not just the power steering dead but also the steering lock on. Luckily it was day

I had a Renault Clio (bought new) where the steering cut out on the motorway. Not just the power steering dead but also the steering lock on. Luckily it was daytime, quiet and on a long straight stretch. I was able to disengage the clutch and the handbreak (and breaks which worked but not well). Pulled the key out + on again and it unlocked. Happened twice in our journey, the second time I was driving very defensively (leaving lots of space and not changing lane) and reacted quickly. It was the first and last French-made car I've owned. Then there was the VW Polo I had whose main brakes failed coming off of the motorway. That was crazy scary, had to use a combination of the handbreak and going off-road to stop in time.